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I'm happy to say that, after advising my son on how to do a great poetry reading, I gave a great speech last week taking my own advice. The purpose of the speech was simply to introduce the newly created group that I lead within the organization. There were also a few other update speeches being given by other groups, perhaps six or seven in all. It was basically a meet-and-greet.

My organization just loves powerpoint. I personallyhate powerpoint, or at least the way it's used most of the time. I decided that I wouldn't use it -- a quick introduction didn't require exhibits. In fact, I decided, I would go large or go home So I wrote an eight minute speech complete with elaborate visualization, an entwined story, and a passionate fist-thumping advocacy for my group.

During the week before the presentation I noticed the manager near me working hard on powerpoint. I asked him what he was doing, and he told me he was working on his presentaion for that same event. I got nervous. I asked him to show me. He flipped me through org charts, photos of his team, mission statements, diagrams of workflow, and on and on. I told him I was planning on not using powerpoint. He cocked his head like he didn't understand, then gave a drawn out "....owwwwwkayyyyyyy ..." My nervousness doubled, but I remembered what I had advised my son and decided to continue on the path.